Adam 12 was a TV series created by Jack Webb and Robert A. Cinader. The show ran on NBC from 1968 through 1975 and was one of the first TV shows to introduce actual police jargon and police procedures following veteran officer Pete Malloy (badge number 744 for you trivia buffs) and fresh out of police academy Jim Reed (badge number 2430). The series takes place in Los Angeles. The episodes were based on actual cases.
Their call signal 1-Adam-12 is based on their unit being the first division, “A” spoken Adam in their police radio jargon means a two man car and 12 being the number assigned to the car. There never was a 1-Adam-12 car in Los Angeles. LA police enthusiast will tell you that they should actually be the 2-Adam-12 since they mostly worked the second division (Rampart) area of the city.
Veteran officer Pete Malloy was played by Martin Milner who passed away of heart failure at the age of 83 on September 6, 2015. He stared in the TV series Route 66 as Tod Stiles which ran from 1960 to 1964. He also starred in the TV series of Swiss Family Robinson, MacGyver, Airwolf and Murder She Wrote to name a few.
Kent McCord as of this writing in 2018 is still with us at the age of 75. He starred in roles in the ABC Galactica, Mr. Unger on Airplane II, The Sequel,
Ajax Dishwasher Man
Actor Eugene Roche was the dishwasher man in the 1970’s
Colgate-Palmolive Ajax for dishes and as he would say “Squeaky Clean”
dishes.
This was probably Roche’s most famous role even though he
was well known on Broadway and many roles in movies. In TV he appeared
in Night Court as Christine Sullivan’s father as well as other shows like Webster and Perfect Strangers.
Sadly Roche passed on July 28, 2004 of a heart attack. He was 75.
Small Shots 1971 with Jodi Foster
Before Jodi Foster hit the big screen she was a frequent visitor to
the TV in commercials. Here she is in 1971 advertising Mattel’s Small
Shots. Small Shots were a version of Hot Wheels. The three-inch skaters
were mounted on a 4 wheel base and were boxed with a jump ramp. Skate ‘N
Race Sets sets had additional characters like Hot Red and Sillie Millie
and Breezy Bridgit was sold separately. Red Hot Red and Sillie Millie
were sold in the in the Skate ‘N Race Sets.
Small shots were
also able to run on Hot Wheel Tracks including to super charger! They
were manufactured until 1973. Today individual characters can fetch $30
to $40 if in good condition and the Skate ‘N Race Sets will get you $200
to $300.
Ray Waltson for AT&T
This was about the only commercial I remember him doing. An AT&T commercial about 30 years after his fame on My Favorite Martian.
Meco-Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
Meco’s theme from Close Encounters was track 5 of side two of the album Close Encounters Of Every Kind in 1978. Meco’s real name is Domenico Monardo. He became famous for disco-izing movie soundtracks starting with Star Wars in 1977.
Noxema Joe Namath
Joe Namath aka Broadway Joe was still advertiser’s darling in 1973. Gunilla Knudson, Miss Sweeden and Miss Universe runner-up in 1961 teamed up with Namath in this ad campaign. Joe Namath quarterbacked the New York Jets to win Super Bowl III on January 12, 1969, The New York Jet’s only Super Bowl win.
Bugs Bunny For Tang
Suzy Homemaker Sweet Shop
Suzy Homemaker toys were introduced in 1966 by Topper Toys. The name quickly became common phrase in America and is still used today. The Suzy Homemaker doll became the second most popular doll sold in the United States behind the Barbie Doll. The Easy Bake Oven was also a competitor to the line.
10cc – It Doesn’t Matter At All – non-charted promo single of 1980
It Does not Matter at All is a 10cc single . It comes from their album Look Hear? .
The single is about a love, to which everyone seems to have comment; the singer continues. The picture with B-side From Rochdale to Ocho Rios was a flop. It did not make good sales figures anywhere.
Musicians
Eric Stewart – vocals, electric guitar , backing vocals
Graham Gouldman – bass guitar, acoustic guitar
Rick Fenn – electric guitar, background vocals
Duncan Mackay – Yamaha CS80 , electric piano
Stuart Tosh – percussion , background vocals
Paul Burgess – percussion
